We look back at the literary scene in 2022 with a two-part series starting with those who left us in 2022 and winners of literary competitions across Africa and its diaspora. In 2016, we here at James Murua Literary introduced what we called the “Outstanding African Literary Awards” where we gave you a look at […]
Egyptian novelist and short story writer Bahaa Taher passed away in Egypt from illness on October 27, 2022. Bahaa Taher was born in Giza Governorate on January 13, 1935, in Egypt. He had a bachelor’s degree in history, and literature faculty in 1956, then a postgraduate diploma in media from the University of Cairo in […]
Sierra Leonean librarian, novelist, and biographer Yema Lucilda Hunter passed away in Accra, Ghana on Sunday, August 21, 2022. Yema Lucilda Caulker was born in Freetown, Sierra Leone on 15 July 1943 to Richard Edmund Kelfa-Caulker and Olivette Hannah Stuart. Her father was a diplomat and educationist became the first African principal of the Albert […]
Nigerian novelist, playwright, and filmmaker Biyi Bandele passed away in Lagos, Nigeria on Sunday, August 7, 2022. Biyi Bandele was born in Kaduna State in 1967 and did his undergraduate studies at Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife. During a long career, he worked with the Royal Court Theatre, and the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as […]
South African poet, author, and anti-apartheid activist Don Mattera passed away in Pretoria, South Africa on Monday, July 18, 2022. Donato Francisco Mattera, better known as Don Mattera or Bra Don, was born in Johannesburg, South Africa in 1935. His unique heritage was derived from his Italian grandfather, Xhosa grandmother, and Tswana mother. Some of […]
Somaliland writer and scholar Said Jama Hussein died from cancer in London, UK on Wednesday, June 8, 2022. Said Jama Hussein was a well-known Somali scholar, intensely devoted to the promotion of the Somali language and culture. He is the author of Shufbeeland and Safar Aan Jaho Lahayn; both are collections of short stories […]
Barbadian novelist, essayist, and poet George Lamming passed away on Saturday, June 4, 2022. George Lamming was born on June 8, 1927, in Barbados and started his career as a teacher before emigrating to England and finding work as a broadcaster for the BBC Colonial Service. His debut novel In the Castle of My Skin […]
Kenyan poet and musician Grandmaster Masese, real name Dennis Dancan Mosiere, passed away on June 1, 2022. Grandmaster Masese, real name Dennis Dancan Mosiere, came to prominence when a new poetry scene emerged in Nairobi in the mid-2000s. That scene was centred around the monthly Kwani Open Mic where poets could show off their prowess […]
Congolese poet and academic Philippe Masegabio Nzanzu passed away on May 16, 2022. Philippe Masegabio Nzanzu was born in 1944 in the province of Equateur and he completed his Greco-Latin humanities at Saint-Thomas de Lisala College. A lover of Romanesque philology, Philippe Masegabio was a doctor of letters and philosophy trained at the University of […]
South African Primrose Mrwebi, Moroccan Driss El Khouri, and South African Valerie Boyd have passed away in the last few weeks. Primrose Mrwebi South African writer, poet, and performer Primrose Mrwebi died of cancer on Saturday, February 12, 2022. A graduate of the Waterfront Theatre School, she was a frequent contributor at literary festivals across […]
Poet, musician, and South African Literary Awards founder Sindiswa Seakhoa passed away on Thursday, February 10, 2022. Sindiswa Seakhoa was a South African poet and musician whose greatest achievement was the foundation of the South African Literary Awards or the SALAs. The SALAs, founded in 2005, “pays tribute to South African writers who have distinguished […]
Congolese publisher, writer, and linguist Bienvenu Sene Mongaba reportedly died of a heart attack on Monday, January 31, 2022. Bienvenu Sene Mongaba was born in Kinshasa, DR Congo on January 28, 1967, and grew up to pursue undergraduate chemistry studies at the University of Kinshasa. He moved to Belgium in 1996, to continue his postgraduate […]
In our continuing look back at the year, we talk about those who passed away in 2021. We have been remembering those who ended their journey as elders and became literary ancestors in our annual recap and this year is no different. Many of those who have produced the work that nourished us as a […]
US author, professor, feminist scholar bell hooks passed away at her home in Kentucky, USA earlier today, December 15, 2021. bell hooks was an American author, professor, feminist, and social activist. The focus of her writing was the intersectionality of race, capitalism, and gender, and what she described as their ability to produce and perpetuate […]
South African poet, children’s book writer, and anti-apartheid struggle icon Lindiwe Mabuza and US American writer Greg Tate have both passed on. Mabuza died on December 6 while Tate died on December 7. Lindiwe Mabuza Lindiwe Mabuza was a South African politician, diplomat, poet, academic, journalist, and cultural activist. She was an anti-Apartheid activist who […]
